This is a core course that focuses on the development of professional practice skills directly related to work integrated learning. The course involves placement in an educational setting. Particular focus will be given to encouraging students to extend their knowledge of in-depth planning and assessment practices.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course is designed to assist students to build and refine their knowledge and skills in the areas of observation, learning and teaching, assessment, reflection and knowledge of innovations and initiatives, based on reflection and feedback from their previous professional practice experiences and current learning within the course.

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
• Plan, document and implement a comprehensive program for teaching consecutive whole days with full control.
• Observe, reflect and record general observations of classrooms and how teachers implement different models of planning.
• Articulate how to involve specialist teachers in the design of curriculum and planning for learning.
• Demonstrate an ability to use evaluation strategies to modify program planning.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the teaching and learning purposes of planned activities.
• Understand and use a range of appropriate strategies to assess learning and show evidence of contributing to or keeping assessment records.
• Use assessment strategies and records that reflect the needs of individual learners and the whole classroom group.
• Display evidence of a developing philosophy of education.
• Articulate some of the innovations and initiatives that are being implemented in classrooms and educational environments. Implement some of these innovations and initiatives in the planned teaching and learning activities.
• Seek, accept and use guidance and respond constructively to feedback from professional mentors. Articulate and provide feedback to peers and mentors.
• Engage with others to reflect on their teaching and issues impacting on the classrooms.

ICT Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course students will have demonstrated and/or acquired the following ICT capabilities:
• Understandings of how ICT resources can be integrated in meaningful ways that take into account students’ existing and diverse technological skills and to produce engaging and challenging curriculum.
• Understandings of how to use ICT in the classroom to facilitate learning, in particular critical skills such as information skills, analysis, problem-solving and decision-making.
• Awareness of digital assessment and reporting tools for effective learning.
• Personal proficiency in using ICT.

VIT Standards
This course is aligned with the following standards:
• Teachers plan and assess for effective learning.
• Teachers use a range of teaching strategies and resources to engage students in effective learning.
• Teachers reflect on, evaluate and improve their professional knowledge and practice.

Overview of Learning Activities

Students’ learning in this course will involve a range of activities both at the educational setting and university that are designed to focus on addressing various Victorian Institute of Teaching characteristics of effective teaching.

Overview of Learning Resources

See part B

Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks are directly linked to the stated objectives and outcomes. Assessment in the course will be both theoretical and practical in nature. A range of formative and summative assessment types will be incorporated into the course (for example, developing a Professional Portfolio and a variety of assessment that demonstrates how the specific areas of professional practice have been addressed).

Students should refer to Part B of the course guide for further information on assessment.